Clamp for books and like articles



June 12, 1956 F. s. EDEN CLAMP FOR BOOKS AND LIKE ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1955 INVENTOR. FRANK S. EDEN June 12, 1956 F. s. EDEN CLAMP FOR BOOKS AND LIKE ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1953 INVENTOR. FRANK S. EDEN BY Judi/QM CLAMP FOR BOQKS AND LIKE ARTICLES Frank S. Eden, Miami, Fla.

Application October 7, 1953, Serial N 0. 384,657

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-1) This invention relates to book holding means and in particular to apparatus which is adapted to hold and support a book or the like in position to facilitate labeling, indexing or otherwise marking on the back of the book.

Institutions such as libraries and the like continuously receive large numbers of new books which must be marked or labeled with certain symbols of identification in order to properly classify the books. Such institutions frequently repair books by replacing backs or have books completely rebound which then must be remarked. These institutions also frequently reclassify their systems which necessitates remarking the individual volumes. Such classification and identification marks are usually placed on the backs of the books and the marking operation entails a problem of supporting and/or holding each book during the marking operation. This problem is further complicated by the demand for speed in marking large numbers of books. My invention, inter alia, solves this problem.

A general object of the present invention is the provision of a clamp for holding and supporting a book and the like in a convenient position for marking the back of same. Another object is the provision of a book holder which may be conveniently operated to quickly clamp and release a book. Another object is the provision of a book holding device which firmly grips, supports and holds a book or the like in a suitable position for marking the back of same. Another object is the provision of a book clamping means which is capable of holding and supporting books of varyingthicknesses. Another object is the provision of a book holding device which in addition to gripping and supporting the book also provides a working surface of substantial'area immediately adjacent and in substantially the same plane as the back of clamped book. The working surface not only provides 'for convenient disposition of tools and materials adjacent the work but also supports the lower arm and hand of the operator in a comfortable position for working the book.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view of a table embodying my invention and showing a book supported thereby in position for marking or labeling.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the holder of Figure l with a book held thereby in a different position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table of Figure 1 with the book removed from the holding device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 showing the stationary parts of the device, the slide member having been removed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on theline 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

nited States Patent "ice I Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, the reference character T designates a table having legs L and a substantially flat generally rectangular top member 5.

Preferably, one corner of the table top 5, the lower right hand corner as viewed in Figure 1, is cut-away or otherwise formed with a generally rectangular recess 6 defined by the edges 7 and 8 of the table top 5 which preferably extend inwardly from the sides of the table top and meet at right angle to each other. A slide member 9 supported on the table top within the recess 6 is arranged to move generally in the plane of table top 5 longitudinally along the edge 7 toward and away from the other edge 8 of the table top. The slide member 9 has an elongated edge 10 adjacent to and preferably parallel to edge 8 on the table top which edge 10 cooperates with the edge 8 on the table top to actually engage and hold a book B in position. Resilient means such as rubber strip or bands 12, see Figures 5 and 6, secured at one end to extension member 13 anchored to the table top and at the other end to the slide member 9 exert a pressure against the slide member 9 normally urging same toward the transverse edge 8 of the table top. When the book B is disposed between the edges 8 and 10 of the table top and slide member, respectively, with the grooved hinge lines 14 of the book substantially in the plane of the table top, the bands 12, being under tension, cause the slide member 9 to forcibly bear against the book with the edges 8 and 10 of table top 5 and slide member 9, respectively, projecting into the hinge lines 14 of the book whereby to hold same firmly in supported position as shown in Figure 1.

In order to support the slide member 9 for reciprocating movements in the plane of the table top 5, extension member 13 preferably secured to the underside of the table top by screws S projects under the recess 6 a distance substantially the same as the width of slide piece 9 and carries at its outer end a guide strip 15 which engages the outer edge 16 of the slide piece. Guide strip 15 is secured to the end of extension members by screws 17 and has an inwardly projecting top flange 18 which is adapted to ride'in a corresponding elongated groove or slot 19 in the outer edge 16 of the slide piece and to support the latter for movement relative to the table top. Preferably the lower portion 16a of the outer edge 16 of the slide piece, that is, the portion of edge 16 under the slot 19, is undercut by an amount equal to the thickness of guide strip 15 so that the end edge of this .part of the table is substantially square. Preferably, the top surface of extension member 13 and/ or the under surface of slide 9 are transversely slotted at 21 and 22, respectively, to accommodate the horizontal reaches of bands 12 and the head of screws 23, see Figure 6, which secure the bands to the underside of the slide piece 9. The opposite end of the bands 12 are fastened to the side edge of extension member 13 by screws 24. The extension member is also preferably cut away at 25 to permit the operator to conveniently grasp the finger recess 26, see Figure 7, in the underside of slide piece 9 for manipulating same.

The inner longitudinally extending edge 28 of slide piece 9 'which'is opposite outer edge 16 thereof is similarly supported for sliding movement relative to the adjacent edge 7 of the table top 5. For this purpose, I prefer that the inner edge 28 of the slide piece 9 be longitudinally slotted at 29 and that a preferably metallic strip 30 having a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of slot be pressed into and thereby secured within the slot 29 as shown. The width of strip 30 is substantially greater than the depth of slot 29 so that the former projects outwardly from the inner slide piece edge 28 and into another elongated slot 31 formed in the longitudinal edge 7 of the table top. The thickness of slot 31 preferably is slightly greater than the thickness of guide strip 39 so that the latter along with slide piece 9 may move freely longitudinal-ly without substantial vertical play. In order to prevent inadvertent :disassembly of the slide member 9 from the table top member 5, I prefer that a suitable .stop such as screw 32, see Figure 7, with a projecting head 33 be secured to the underside of slide member- 9 adjacent edge .10 thereof; the head 32 of screw 33 being adapted-to engage the inner edge .34 of extension member '13 to limit the travel of .slide member 9 when same is with.- dr-awn from theedge '8 of tabletop ,5.

Books and the like which are bound with somewhat stiff side covers generally have elongated hin e g 'QQVes such as .are indicated at 14in Figures 1 and 7, located on opposite sides .of the book B at the juncture of the side covers and the backC of the book. In ordersto facilitate the clamping of such books in my book clamp .and to enhance the non-slip support of books gripped in the clamp, prefer that the book engaging edges :8 and 1-0 of the table top .and slide piece 9, respeetiyely, beformed so as to permit a portion .of :each edge to project into the hinge grooves 14 and thus to be interlocked with athe book. For thispurpose, each of the edges 8 and 10 is undercut along the bottom side thereof, see figure 6, so that the relatively thin uPP r portions 8a;and 1Qa of the edges 8 and 10 protrude somewhat as shown and are adapted to :tit into the hinge grooves 114 of the book, .see Figure 7. The pressure .of bands 12 acting on sli,de piece 9 causes these :thin upper edge por ions 8a-and :10a of the table top and slide piece to project into the hinge grooves -14 of the book B :and ;holdzthe bookfirmly .in position without danger of the bookqfalling through even when subjected-to moderate vertically acting pressures vor forces as may be experienced when -,the back =C of :the book is stamped or .otherwise marked. It will ,;also ,be noted that the back C .Of-the book B is-practicallyv'in the plane of the table top when .the book is supported in the clamp, thus facilitating the marking .or iothcr processing of same. Slide piece 9 preferably is .sufficiently wide and long to present a top working surface of substantial .area so that the book when clamped is surrounded by ample workingsurface. For example, a slide piecea9" longiby 6" wide gives satisfactory results.

The holder is also well adapted :to .clamp -.and support other types of .bookswhich do;not have pronouncedhinge grooves,1such;as childrens booksand paper bound books, asi-well aas-imagazinesand::the like. For supporting such articles, the covers of the :bookor magazine .are spread out at an angle -.of 180, see Figure ,2, 'and thebody of the :article is :inserted :between 1the.clamping edges 8 and 10 of the holder. An advantage .of this system-of supporting the :book .or magazine lSrlZhat the back of the article as well as the covers thereofare ifirmly supported in the clamp ifor .marking :purposes. The clamp automatically adjusts itself .to the thicknessofthebody of the book while the surfaces to :be marked are supported .approximately-in 51116 plane .of the working :surface of vthe holder or table.

'The operation :of the clamping-device is simple,-convenientand rapid. Whena book is :to be processed, the slide :piece '9 is manually withdrawn outwardly .fromthe recess by the operator a distance sufficient to-permit the particular'bookbeing processed tobeinserted leng-thwise, opening downwardly, between the edges B and 100f "the table top Sand slide piece '9, respectively. The'book is positioned'by the operator so that the thin: portion 8a of table top tetlge' ii fits -into the adjacent hinge groove 14 of the book. The operator may then release the slide piece 9 which: presses -againstthe :opposite side of the book-by reasondf= thepressureor band 12, the top por-tion 10a of edge 10 fitting tightly in the adjacent hinge groove 14 of the book. The book, now firmly supportedin the clamp, may then be released by the operator who then has both hands available for processing the book. When the book is to be removed from the clamp, the operator merely slides the book outwardly along the table top and slide piece edges 8 and 19 until the book is free of the clamp.

It wi l be not d tha he c amp embo y n y invention readily accommodates books of varying thickness without adjustment or alteration of the apparatus. The open end of the clamp permits the accommodation of books having lengths greater and smaller than the length of the clamp. Hence the clamp is flexible and can be used to hold a variety of sizes of articles.

The modified form of my invention shown in Figure 8 comprises a portable clamping unit 35 which may be secured to the top f a wq fkbenchor table 'W by means of screws 55. The unit 35 base plate member 37 which compares to the table top 5 in the above described form of my invention but which is considerably smaller in size. The-Pla e memberfi! has a mounting portion 38 adapted to overlie an edge and preferably a ,corner .of a workbench W and secured thereto by suitable means such as screws 36. Ascale 4.0 maybe disposed lengthwise of the clamp in juxtaposition with the clamping edges to facilitate desired spacing of the markings ,on the supported article and/or :to ,insure'sunifform spacing of such markings .on books or the like intended to be'placed on the same bookshelf ;and .on adjacent shelves. In all other respects, .the clamping unit .35 is substantially the same as the form shown in Figures l-.7, inclusive, andlike parts are indicated by like reference characters on the drawings.

While lihave illustrated my invention as being embodied in-a clamp particularly adapted for use by vright handed people, it will be understood that the clamp can be -made as a left :hand model simply ibytlocating the slide piece 9 and associated parts at the opposite end of the working surface. :My invention may also be practiced by providing apair of such clamps at opposite endsof a working surface, thus incorporating right and left :hand models in one :unit.

Modifications and changes may be made .to :the illustrated and described forms :of my invention without departing from the precepts of the invention and I therefore do not wish to be limited to these embodiments of my invention. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

v1. A clamp for supporting a book in a-vertical plane with .the back of -.the book facing upwardly, said book having side covers joining said back along grooved hinge lines, the clamp comprising a substantially rectangular stationary member with an outwardly opening recess formed in the'periphery thereof, said recess being defined by .two inwardly extending edges formed a at right angles toeach other, one ofsaid. edges being undercut to provide a relatively :thin protruding :upperedge .portion engageable in one of the grooved hinge lines of said book .with the back of thebookprojectingslightly:above said stationary member, the other of said edges having an elongated slot formed therein, a slide member, means-to guide and suppo a -s d m m e o vemsnt ithinm e e toward and .away from said .one .edge of the stationary member, comprising an extension member secured to the underside of saidstationaryn emberand extendingacross and under said recess, a guide strip carried on the unsupported end of said extensionmember, the outer edgeof said slide member having an elongated slot adapted to receive said guide strip whereby the slide member is supported for movement relative to the stationary member, the inner-edge of said slide member opposite said outer edge having an elongated longitudinal guide strip secured thereto and extending outwardlytherefrom into and bein g slidable longitudinally within said slot in said'other'recessdefining edge of the stationary member, said slide member having an inner transverse edge extending substantially parallel to said one recess-def: aing edge of the stationary member and being similarly undercut providing a relative- 1y thin protruding upper edge portion adapted to engage in the opposite hinge groove of said book, and means urging said slide member into said recess to grip and support a book disposed between the undercut edges of said stationary member and said slide member.

2. A clamp for supporting a book in a vertical plane with the back of the book facing upwardly, said book having side covers joining said back along grooved hinge lines, the clamp comprising a stationary member having a top surface and having two inwardly extending peripheral edges, said edges being formed at right angles to each other and defining therebetween an outwardly opening recess on the periphery of said stationary member, one of said edges being undercut to provide a relatively thin protruding upper edge portion adapted to engage in one of the grooved hinge lines of said book with only the back of the book extending above said top surface of the stationary member, a slide member, means to guide and support said slide member for movement within said recess toward and away from said one edge of the stationary member comprising an extension member secured to the underside of said stationary member and extending across and under said recess, means on the unsupported end of said extension member engaging said slide member and supporting same for movement relative to the stationary member, said slide member having an inner transverse edge extending substantially parallel to said one recess-defining edge of the stationary member and being similarly undercut providing a relatively thin protruding upper edge portion for engaging in the opposite hinge groove of said book, and means urging said slide member into said recess to grip and support a book disposed between said undercut edges of said stationary member and said slide member.

3. A clamp for supporting an article having a surface to be processed, comprising a generally rectangular stationary member having an outer corner thereof formed with an inwardly extending right angle recess, one side of said recess being defined by a straight article engaging edge constituting part of the periphery of said member and extending inwardly from the outer side of said member, a slide member having a straight edge, said slide member being slidably supported on said stationary memher for movement within said recess and with said edges opposed and parallel to each other, said edges when separated upon movement of said slide member within said recess and relative to said stationary member defining therebetween space of variable width for receiving the article to be supported, said space opening outwardly from said stationary member to permit the article to be moved into and from said space in a direction parallel to said edges, and resilient means for urging said slide member toward said edge of the stationary member to normally close said space between said edges.

4. A book clamp comprising a first rigid member having recess formed on the outer peripheral side thereof and a straight edge defining at least part of said recess, said edge being engageable with the book to be clamped, a second rigid member supported on and slidable relative to said first member within said recess toward and away from said edge, the space between said edge and said second member being variable in width and being open at one longitudinal end for receiving the book to be clamped, and resilient means normally to urge said second member toward said edge whereby to clamp and support a book disposed therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 499,488 Whitlock June 13, 1893 703,495 Staniewicz July 1, 1902 770,587 Kling Sept. 20, 1904 857,271 Day June 18, 1907 1,372,607 Davis Mar. 22, 1921 2,151,957 Davis Mar. 28, 1939 2,347,886 Crisman May 2, 1944 2,602,012 Doty July 1, 1951 

